Behind-the-scenes book talk with a bestselling author and his unicorn. Join 6000+ readers of my 150 books as I share stories behind the stories, unbox the creative process, and lead a disobedient "artisan author" movement to treat readers like rockstars and make the book world suck less.
More forthcoming unicorns
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Yo! As I recently mentioned, my co-author Sean Platt and I are returning to our Unicorn Western world this Fall! VITAL NOTE: Even if you think you're not into unicorn books, you should keep reading this email. You probably are into them; you just don't know it because most unicorn books are lame. But ours aren't. I mean, here's what a reader said about them: Our new project (Unicorn Heathens) will be the first new book I've written in a year, and the first thing I've written with Sean in several years. (And yes, I'm full aware how much that sucks. It sucks for you as readers, but it's REALLY sucked for me. I hiatus'd writing to reboot my author business -- something that was 1) necessary but also 2) really shitty anyway -- and the lack of regular writing has messed with my head. I need to express myself like I need to eat. Denying it for so long has not been cool. Coming back is like remembering I haven't been breathing.) Unicorn Heathens is a "bridge" novel connecting Unicorn Western and Unicorn Genesis (its prequel, which you should read after Western rather than before) to this world's EPIC FINALE, Unicorn Apocalypse. Unicorn Heathens also makes Unicorn Apocalypse possible: The events of Heathens are necessary precursors for the finale. As to timing, we'll write Apocalypse after Heathens is finished. And OMG, Sean and I have been talking about Unicorn Apocalypse forever! It's going to be a huge landmark in the Truant & Platt partnership, which is basically Lennon and McCartney with more rainbows and death. I'm starting Unicorn Heathens on Monday. To prepare, I re-read both Western and Genesis. And you guys: I forgot how amazing they are. I know I'm biased, but honestly: Fuckyeah. These books have everything. Check it out:
Unicorn Western is a fantasy/western mashup set in a world that shattered long ago in an apocalyptic event known as The Grand Cataclysm. The worlds also broke internally, splitting great veins of magic that used to run beneath the surface and spilling magic into a dark void at the core. In the axial world of our story, there are two major pieces: the Oz-like human city of The Realm, now an unreachable mirage sometimes visible in the sky, and the desolate and arid Sands. Clint Gulliver, an exiled Marshal of The Realm, now wanders the Sands with his unicorn partner Edward and a pair of magical seven-shooters on his hips. The pair are soul-bonded ... but they also sort of hate each other. Edward is an asshole. Clint is a grizzled curmudgeon. But when an old foe returns riding a unicorn of obsidian black with Darkness from the core at his side, Clint and Edward must join forces again, on a quest to reach the unfindable Realm and restore the worlds' balance. The story is so much more amazing than I remembered. My formal review, were I a reader instead of its creator, would say, "I laughed, I cried, I wanted an asshole unicorn partner of my own to ride with through a Bubble of Glee." And yes, you can quote me on that. Get your copy of Unicorn Western here if you haven't read it yet. And in advance: You're welcome. I'm SO SO SO excited to write again in this world! It's pure joy, pure creativity, and a place to explore everything fantastical and amazing. We're shooting for an early-next-year launch date for Unicorn Heathens. That gives you plenty of time to read up and start anticipating it eagerly ... and thereafter to ready yourself for Unicorn Apocalypse! Happy reading, |
Literary As F**k
Behind-the-scenes book talk with a bestselling author and his unicorn. Join 6000+ readers of my 150 books as I share stories behind the stories, unbox the creative process, and lead a disobedient "artisan author" movement to treat readers like rockstars and make the book world suck less.
You know, creativity is a strange and wonderful thing. It refuses to be put in a box, at least for me. I've always been a writer. That's what I tell people who meet me and see all the books I've published: "How long have I been writing? Well, 13 years professionally ... but I've 'been a writer' all my life." But back in the day, I also used to draw a lot. Both of my parents are painters -- not the kind who paint houses, but the kind who make and sell art to hang on walls. Both of my kids are...
This is super fun! I've got two new updates to share: One about my first series, and one about my newest project, which returns to one of my oldest story worlds. First update: VAMPIRES You know my super-popular (and oldest) series, Fat Vampire? The one that's sold a million copies? The series that was bought by SyFy and turned into a TV show called Reginald the Vampire? The TV show in which I TEEEEEEECHNICALLY have a cameo -- appearing for upwards of four seconds as the essential character...
Happy Saturday! You're going to absolutely love this. I tried to do one thing and ended up with something so much cooler. Something that you, as one of my faithful readers, will dig the hell out of. As part of the promo blitz for my new book (don't get excited; I wrote this one for authors), I asked my friend and constant collaborator Sean Platt to join me for a little recorded discussion. The goal was to chat about how we Sean and I had ALWAYS broken rules as a writing team -- NEVER obeyed...